Machine for forming building-blocks.



PATENTED MAY 5, 1908.

W. RAAB.

MACHINE FOR FORMING BUILDING BLOGKS.

APPLICATION IILED AUG. 22, 1903.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

9 6" ,jwelzfor' W 69%;

- PATENTED MAY 5, 1908.

W. MAB.

MACHINE FOR FORMING BUILDING BLOCKS.

ABPLIOATION FILED AUG. 22, 1903.

No. 886,404. PATENTED MAY 5, 1908.

' w. RAAB.

MACHINE FOR FORMING BUILDING BLOCKS.

' APPLIOATION FILBD AUG. 22, 1903.

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. F -WJILZJZSI I3 I a; ,l'iwezd'orr PATENTED MAY 5, 1908.

W. RAAB.

MACHINE FOR FORMING BUILDING'BLOGKS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 22, 1903.

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JZZLJZZMI PATENTED MAY 5, 1908.

W. RAAB.

MACHINE FOR FORMING BUILDING BLOCKS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 22. 1903.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

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W. RAAB. MACHINE FOR FORMING BUILDING BLOCKS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 22. 1903.

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W. RAAB.

MACHINE FOR FORMING BUILDING BLOCKS.

APPLIGATIONIILED AUG. 22. 1903.

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No. 886,404. PATENTED MAY 5, 1908. W. RAAB.

MACHINE FOR FORMING BUILDING BLOCKS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 22, 1903.

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W. RAAB. MACHINE FOR FORMING BUILDING BLOCKS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 22, 1903.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

-ment of UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM RAAB, OF WATERLOO, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO THOMAS CASOADEN, JR, OF WATERLOO,

' IOWA.

MACHINE FOR FORMING BUILDING-BLOCKS.

Specification of Letters Patent,

Patented may 5, 1908.

Application filed August 22, 1903 Serial No. 170,420.

To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I,-WILLIAM RAAB, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Waterloo, county of Black Hawk, and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Forming Buildin -Blpcks, of which the following is declare to be a full, clear, and exact descri tion. i i

T e improvement relates to machines for forming artificial stone building-blocks from mixtures of cement and sand or similar plastic material, and particularly to the ty e of machine adapted to form hollow bu1l ingblocks.

The invention seeks to provide a sim le and effective construction by which t e block-forming mold may be quickly opened and closed and the completed block removed from the mold.

Afurther object of the invention is to provide an effective form of an automatically operating tamping device so that the moldbox may be rapidly and compactly filled with the plastic material.

A further object of the invention is to provide fluid pressure 0 crating devices in connection with suitab e controlling valves so that the machine may be 0 erated for rapidly forming the building-b cost.

The invention consists in the features of construction, combinations and arran eparts set forth in the following description, illustrated inthe accompanying drawings and more particularly set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved machine. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the supporting-frame, mold-box and operating devices therefor, showing the parts of the mold in normal, closed position. Fig. 3 is a similar view shou ing the parts of the mold in open or expanded positlon. Fig. 4 is a plan View of the parts shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on line 5-5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing a modified arrangement of parts, Fig. 7 is a detail, vertical section through the tamping device, its support and operating means. Fig. 8 is an inverted plan view of the tamping device. Fig. 9 is a detail view of the supporting upright for the tamping device, arts being shown in section. Fig. 10 is a etail elevaocks at a small' tionjof the lower portion of the supporting uprigiit. Fig.- 1 1 is a detail view illustrating the motor for operating the reciprocating tam ers.

T 1e sup orting-frame for the mold-box comprises t 1e base portion 10, corner posts 11. mounted thereon and an upwardly flanged top-piece 12 fixed to the upper ends of the corner posts. Cross-bars 13 and 14 (see Figs. 2 and 4) extend tion of the top-piece 12, these cross-bars being cast in piece or otherwise rigidly secured to the top-piece. Between the outer pairs of cross-bars 13, 14, extend connecting members 15 (see dotted lines Fig. 4) and between the central pair of cross-bars 14, 14 extend the curved bars 16, also shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4.

Upon the frame members 13, 14, 15 and 16 rests a supporting piece 17 which, if hollow blocks are to be manufactured, is provided with ,the upwardly projecting cores 18' formed in piece therewith or connected thereto in any suitable manner. The plate 17 provided with the vertically disposed cores, is preferably removably mounted in position, so that another similar plate having a difierent arrangement of cores may be substituted as desired. To hold the plate accurately in position it is provided with a downwardly projecting flan e 19 which sets within the cross-bars 14 am the connecting members 16 at the top of the frame. In this manner the plate 17 is held in accurate position yet may be readily removed for the substitution of another'plate having a different arrangement of cores.

U on the supporting plate 17 rests the ver-v tical y shiftable bottom plate 20 of the moldbox, which, as indicated is preferably'provided on its underside with strengthenin ribs 21. The bottom plate 20 is provide with suitable openings 22 which correspond with the cores 18 and through which the latter normally extend. Other bottom plates may be readily substituted in. accordance with the arrangement of cores employed.

The outwardly expansible side walls 23 of the mold-box are arranged about the edges of the bottom plate 20 and, in closed position (see Fig. 2) are vertically disposed closely adjacent the edges of the bottom plate. The side walls 23 maybe provided as desired, with inwardly projecting core blocks 24, the edge of the bottom plate 20 being correspondingly cut away to fit about such core blocks.

In order that the sidewalls may expand outwardly to" release the molded block, they are members 28 and 30 preferably mounted upon the upper ends of the pivoted supporting arms 25, two of such supporting arms being for the long side walls of the mold-box and one only for the short end side walls. In order that the side walls may be readily interchan ed for varying the size, shape or surface of the molded block, they are preferably removably secured by bolts 26 to the upper ends of the supporting arms 25 so that they may be readily removed and others substituted as desired.

The su porting arms are mounted on pivotins or s afts 27 arranged some distance belbw the bottom of the mold-box so that the side walls 23 ma swing outwardly in substantially rightine direction wit out defacing the molded block. Side and end bars 28 and 29 extend between the corner posts 11 just below the position of the pivot pins 27. Side bars 28 are connected by the crossbars 30 and connecting bars 31 extend betweenthe cross-bars 30, and the end bars 29. Bearing blocks 32 and 33 for the pivot shafts 27 are respectively mounted upon the supporting-frame bars 30 and 31 and are preferably arranged thereon to slide to an from the center of the mold-box so that the swinging supports 25 and side walls 23 may be adjusted to and from the center of the mold-box to var its size, it being understood of course that t e side walls 23 must be changed when the size of the mold is altered.

Any suitable means may be provided for adjusting the bearing blocks 32 and 33. In

' the construction shown, screws 34 are mounted to revolve in bearin 's 35 upon the frame see Fig. 5). These screws are held against longitudinal movement, threaded through the bearing blocks 32 and are provided with squared outer ends or with other suitable means whereby they. may be rotated to adjust the bearing blocks 32 to and from the centers of the mold, as desired. Similarly screws 36 are mounted in bearings 37 on cross-bars 29 and 30 of the frame and are threaded through the bearing blocks 33 to effect their adjustment.

For automatically expanding the side walls of the mold, heavy leaf springs 38 are preferably provided and arranged to engage the supporting arms 25 in such a manner that the tend to expand the side walls 23 of the.

mo d-box outwardly against the upwardly projecting flange of the top piece 12, as inicated in Fig. 3. Such springs are prefer-' abl mounted upon the bearing blocks 32 an 33 so that their relative position with reference to the supporting arms 25 is not changed when the latter are adjusted.

An operating cross-head 39 is mounted to shift vertically upon a pair of guide-rods 40 preferablv provided most position.

sea-104 which are fixed between the batch) ofthe .machine and the cross-bars 14 at the upper part of the frame. This cross-head comprises a downwardly extending cylindrical portion 41 to the lower end of which is secured a horizontally projectin plate portion 42. At the corners of the p ate 42 of the cross-head, are fixed four upright rods 43, which are arran ed to slide through bearings upon the crossars .13 at the upper part of the frame, and which are adapte to engage and elevate the bottom late 20 of the mo d above the top of the si e-walls' 23, as indicatpid in Fig. 3 when the cross-head is operate v The cross-head is provided with means arranged to engage the supporting arms 25 and hol( the side walls of the mold in closed position against the tension of the expanding springs 38, when the cross-head is' in lower- Such means preferably comprises a series of rollers 44 projecting plate portion 42 of the cross-head, and arranged to engage cam portions 45 u on t e lower, downwardly extending ends 0 the supporting arms 25 and hold the supporting arms upright against the tension of the sprin s 38 to close the sides of the mold when t e cross-head is in lowermost osition. As the cross-head is elevated, ro lers 44 move u wardlyover the inclined cam portions 45, t us releasing the supporting arms.and permitting the springs 38 to automatically expand the side walls of the mold and release the completed block. It will be noted that, as indicated in Fig. 2, the upper ends of the rods 43 are spaced somewhat apart from the lower surface of the mold bottom plate 20 when the cross-head is in lowermost position, so that the side walls of the molds are released and outwardly ex mounted upon the a 18, so that the block is liftedwithout damaging its surface, which may be ornamented or molded to represent cut stone, if desired.

In order that the rollers 44 may hold the supporting arms 25 and side walls 23-of the mold-box in upright, vertical position'when such parts are adjusted to changethe size of the mold, the rollers are journaled in adjustable slides 4'6 mounted upon the forked projeetions 47 extending outwardlyfrom the, edge of the cross-head plate 42, and these slides are held in adjusted position by set screws 46.

The cross-head may be 0 erated in any suitable manner but preferal a ly a fluid pressure motor is rovided for this purpose so that the machine may'be rapidly operated with little labor and at small-expense. a motor preferably comprises an upright open-top cylinder 48 mounted on base 10 Such within which reciprocates a piston 49 having a piston-rod50 connected to the cross-head,

. by a pump or other suitable means.

' extend upwardly as indicated. A -pipe connection 51 (see Figs. 1 and 2) opens into the lower end of the cylinder 48 and is provided with a manually operated three-way valve 52 of ordinary construction', adapted to connect pipe 51 either with a supply pipe 53 or with an exhaustpipe 54. bteam, air or water under pressure maybe employed but air under a few pounds of ressure is used. A supply reservoir 55 wit 1 which the pipe'53 connects, is conveniently located within the hollow air-tight base portion 10 of the machine, and within which air may be maintained under pressure By means of the valve 52 the flow of fluid under pressure to the motor cylinder 48 may be nicely and accurately controlled to effect the u ward movement of the mold-box bottom pliite 20, and thus lift the completed bloc-k above the cores 18 at any desired rate of speed.

A support 56, which carries a suitable tamping device extends above the mold-box and is preferably laterally shiftable to permit the removal of the molded block. For this purpose, the support 56 is arranged to swing in a horizontal plane upon the upper end of a standard or upright 57 arranged to one side of the supporting-frame for the mold-box. The tamping device preferably comprises duplicate tamping-heads 58, arranged to reciprocate vertically on guide-rods 59, which pro ect downwardly from the support 56. The shift of the tamping-head is controlled by a walking beam 60 journaled upon the support 56 and connecting rods 61 extending between the ends of the walking beam and the separate tamping-heads. Each of the tamping-heads comprises upper and lower plates 62 and63 and is provided with a' series of downwardly projecting blocks or tampers 64. The latter are journaled to slide through rectangular openings 63 in the bottom plates 63 of the tamping-heads and are provided with supporting rods 65 which through openings in the top plates 62. Nuts 66 upon the upper ends of the supporting rods serve to removably hold the tampers in place upon the tampingheads, and springs 67 coiled about the rods 65 and extending between the upper plates 62 and the upper ends of the tampers, serve to hold the latter yieldinglyin lowermost position. By removably supporting the tam ers in place upon the heads, they may e arranged in accordance with the size of the mold employed and the arrangement of cores therein (see. Fig. 8 in which the mold and cores are indicated in dotted lines). By yieldingly supporting the tam ers the material may be rapidly packet within the mold to fill all portions thereof-without undue shock upon the operating parts of the tam ing device.

Tie tamping heads may be operated inany suitable manner but preferab y the fluid employed.

"extent'to which the tampers are pressure motor carried by the support 56 is As illustrated, such, mot-or coiliprises a pair of open-ende'd cylinders 67, secured to the underside of the support 56 and provided with pistons 68 having piston-rods 69 connected to the se arate tamping-heads. The closed ends of tlie cylinders are connected by pipes 70 with a our-way valve 71 (see Fig. 7), which is ada ted to alternately connect the ends of the cy inders with asupply pipe 72 and an exhaust port 73. Valve 71 is automatically operated by a pair of cam-lugs 74, (see Fig. 11) fixed to the separate connecting-rods 61 and arranged to actuate aT-shaped tappet'75, which in turn is ar-, ranged to actuate a crank-arm 76 fixed to the stem of the valve 71. The tappet-arm is pivoted to a support 75 extending between the lower ends of the cylinders 67' and is held on either side of the central position by a spring 77, which also assists in completing its movement. A flexible pi e-connection 78 (see Fig. 1) extends between tlie inlet-pipe 7 2 of the valve 71 and a Verticallydisposed supply ipe 79 arranged near the upright 57 so that uid under pressure may be supplied to the tamperactuat-ing motor withoutinterfering with the shift of the support 56 The pipe 79 preferably connects with the com ressed air reservoir 55, although steam um er pressure could be employed if desired. A manually controlled throttle-valve 80 in the pipe 79, serves to regulate the flow of compressedair to the motor and thereby controls the speed at which the tampers are operated.

It is necessary to gradually diminish the rojected within the mold-box as the latter is fEled with material. To effect this purpose, means are preferably provided for gradually raising the support, 56 which carries thetampers and their actuating devices, while the tam ers are being operated and the mold-box fi led with material. The support 56 is guided in its upward shift by a sleeve 81 which is connected to or formed in piece with support 56, surrounds the upper end of the upright 57 and engages a flange 82 (see Fig. 9) at the upper end thereof. A second sleeve 83 surrounds the u right 57 and is secured to the lower end of t lie sleeve 81. The lower end of the sleeve 83 is rovi'ded with an inwardly extending flangetl portion 84 at its 'lower end which engages the surface of the upright 57. to assist in guidin the sleeves and the support 56 during their vertical shift.

A fluid pressure motor is preferably provided' for effecting the upwardshift of the support 56, comprising. an o en-ended cylinder 85 upon the upper end 0 the upright 57, and provided with a piston 86 andupwardly extending piston-rod 87 The cone-shaped cap 88 upon the upper end of the sleeve 81, rests upon the upper conical end of the piston-rod 87, so that at the end of its upward movement support 56 may be swungto one I side away from the mold-box. A pi e 89 exp ere and t e compressed air therein exusted. By setting the valve 90 in accordance with the scale and index provided, the vertical'shift of the tam er support 56 may be effected at any desire rate of speed as the tam ers are reciprocated and the mold-box filler with material, thereby gradually diminishing the extent to which the tampers are pro'ected within the mold-box. Valve 90 will e so set that the support 56 will not reach the end of its u ward movement before the operator has hail time to completely fill the mold with material.

Support 56 and. connected parts are guided in their upward movement by a roller 92 (see Figs. 9 and 10), journaled upon the lower end of, the sleeve 83 and arranged to shift between the vertically disposed guide-bars 93. One of the bars 93 is shorter than the other so that at the end of the upward movement of the tamper support the roller 92 is released and the tamper support and connected parts are then free to swing laterally with the roller 92 in engagement with a horizontal support 94 connected to the shorter upright 93 and extending about the lower end of the I sleeve 83.

A spring 95 coiled about the'upright 57 and inside the sleeve 83, is connected at op positeends to such parts and is arranged to automatically swing the tamper support 56 to one side as soon as the roller 92 is released from between the upright guide-bars 93. The

upper end of the longer vertical guide 93 and a stop 96 at the end of the horizontal support '94, serve to limit the lateral swing of the tam er support.

The valve 97 interposed in the pipe-connection 79, is arranged to be automatically closed by alu 98 upon the lower end of the sleeve 83 whic strikes a crank-arm 99 on the valve stein when the tamper support reaches the end of its upward movement so' that the supply pressure of the tamper-actuating motor is cut off and the operation of the tamper checked as it is swung to one side. The valve 97 is automatically opened when the tamper support is returned to lowermost position by a lug 100 on sleeve 83 arranged to strike the crank-arm 99 and shift the valve in the opposite direction. A spring 101, conneoted to the crank-arm 99, serves to hold the valve 97 in open or closed position and also assist in completing its shift as the crankarm is struck by the lugs 98.and 100.

The 0 eration is as follows: A plate 17 havi lace upon the u per portion of the moldox frame, the mo d-box bottom late 20 is placed in position as indicated in ig. 2 and the side walls 23 of the desired size are bolted to the upper ends of the su porting arms 25. The supporting arms an their operating rollers 44 are then adjusted, as previously described, so that when the operatin crosshead is in lowermost position the ro lers 44 will hold the side walls of the mold closed and vertically'upright. The tam er support 56 is then swung over the top of the mold and valve 91 opened so that any air in the motor cylinder 85 is exhausted and the tamper support 56 descends by gravity to its lowermost position. This movement automatically opens the valve 97 so that air under pressure is supplied to the tamper-actuating motor cylinders 67 and the tamper-heads are set in o eration. Valve is adjusted so that t e tampers will be operated at the desired speed.

t e desired arrangement of cores,1s

Valve 91 is then closed and valve set to supply air to the motor cylinder 85, so that the tamper, support 56 will be gradually raised as the operator fills the mold with material. When the mold is full valve 97 is automatically closed, as above described, by the engagement of the lug 98 with the crankarm 99 so that the operation of the tampers is stopped, roller 92 is released from between the upright guides 93 and the spring o erates to shift the tampersupport to one si e.

The operator then connects the motor cylinder 48 with the supply reservoir by shifting the valve 52, thus lifting the cross-head 39 releasing the side walls 23 so that the latter are expanded outwardly. by the springs 38 and lifting the bottom plate 20, together with the molded bloc'k above the cores 18 (see Fig. 3). Bottom plate 20, together with the molded block, may be then removed, valve 52 shifted to exhaust the air from the motor cylinder 48 and another bottom plate placed in position so that the machine is ready for the next succeeding operation.

A somewhat modified arrangement of the operating mechanism for the mold-box, is illustrated in Fig. 6. The arrangement of the core-supporting plate and the movable bottom plate from the mold and the operating mechanism for the latter, is similar to that previously described, except that the crosshead 39 on the piston-rod 50, is flat and is not dished. Moreover, the cross-headis not provided with means for releasing the springactuated side walls. The side walls 1n the modification are pressed outwardly by springs 38, which also preferably serve to support the side walls 23 and are secured as indicated, to a supplemental cross-head 102 below the cross-head 39 and surrounding the cylinder 48. The sides 23 are held in closed position against the tension of the springs 38' by a series of blocks 103 having wedge-shagwd upper ends and adapted to engage we geshaped pieces 104, secured to the side walls. The side walls 23 and springs 38 are removably and 'adjustably held in place upon the cross-head 102 by bolts 105, which extend through the lower bentends of the springs 38 and slots 106 in the cross-head 102, and the. blocks 103 are adjustablymounted to slide on-rods 107 fixed to supports 108 depending from the top of the'mold-box frame. Screws 109, journaled in the supports 108, held against longitudinal movement thereby are threaded through the'blocks 103 and provided with squared outer ends, or other means whereby they may be turned. to adjust the blocks 103, as desired. Fluid pressure cylinders 110, mounted on opposite ends of the base portion 10, of the frame, are provided with pistons 111 having piston rods 112 to which the ends of the cross-head 102 are secured. 112 slide through-openings in guide-yokes 113, which also serve to limit the upward movement of the cross-head 102. Supply pi es 114, opening into the lower ends of the cy inders 110, connect, as indicated in dotted lines, with supply pipe 51 and the passage of fluid therethrough is controlled by the valve 52. When the molding operation is complete the operator connects the supply reservoir with the pipes 51 and 114 by means of the valve 52, so that pistons 49 and 111 are shifted upwardly. 'lhe upward movement of the cross-head 102 lifts the side walls 23 upwardly and the latter are thus released from the blocks 103 and are-free to be expanded outwardly by their actuated springs 38. T he upward movement of the crosshead 39 lifts the bottom plate 20 in the manner previously described, but since the upper ends of the rods 43 are, as indicated in dotted lines, normally somewhat below the plane of the bottom plate, the cross-head 39 must be lifted some distance before it commences to shift the bottom plate. In this-way the side walls 23 are'released and expanded before the molded block is lifted from the cores, as previously described in connection with the form shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

It is-obvious that numerous changes canbe made in the details of the construction'without departure from the essentials of the invention. F or example, instead of two sin leacting cylinders, a single double-acting cy inder could be employed for operating the tampers. It is also obvious that parts of the invention could be employed without its ado )tion in entirety.

aving described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A machine for forming hollow building blocks comprising a mold-box having outwardly expansible side walls and a'bottom The upper ends of'the piston-rods.

plate movable to and from the top of said side walls, springs for automatically eXpand-.

ing said side walls, means for holding said side walls in closed position against the tension of said springs, a core projecting through an opening in the mold-box bottom and means for releasing said spring actuated side walls and for shifting said movable bottom above the top of said core to effect the re- 'moval of the molded block therefrom.

said spring actuated side wall and for effecting the shift of said bottom plate above the top of said core to effect the removal of the molded block.

3. A machine for forming hollow building- 'blocks comprising a mold-box having outwardly expansible side walls and a bottom plate movable independently of said side walls and to and from the top thereof, springs for automatically expanding said side Walls, means for holding the latter in closed position against the tension of said springs, a core projecting through an opening in the moldbox bottom plate when in lowermost position, mechanism arranged to successively release said spring actuated side walls and elevate said bottom plate above the top of said V core.

4. A machine for forming hollow building blocks. comprising a non-revoluble, rectangular mold-box having side walls and a bottom plate, a core extending vertically through an opening in said bottom plate, said bottom plate being vertically movable to the tops of said core and of said side walls, springs for automatically expanding said side walls, abutments for holding said side Wallsin closed position against the tension of said springs and mechanism for effecting a relative shift between said side Walls and said abutments, and for elevating said bottom plate to the tops of said core and side walls.

5. A machine for forming hollow building blocks comprising an open top mold box having outwardly expansible, pivoted side walls and a bottom plate movable independently of said side walls toand from the top thereof, a core extending vertically throng an opening in'said mold box bottom plate when in lowermost position, springs for automatically ex anding said side Walls, shiftable abutments or holding said side walls in closed position against the tension of said spring-and mechanism for-shifting said abutments to releasesaidside walls and for raismg said bottom plate to the tops of said core and side wall 6. A machine for forming hollow buildingblocks comprising a mold-box having outwardly expansible side wallsand a-bottom plate-movable independently of said side.

walls and to and from the top thereof, a core extending'through an opening in the moldbox bottom and a shiftable member arra ed to-elevate said bottom plate and provi ed with means for controlling the movement of said side walls. a

7. v A machine for forming hollow buildingblocks comprising a mold-box having outwardly cexpansible side walls and a bottom plate movable independently of'said side walls and to and from the topthereof, a core extending through an opening in the moldbox bottom, s rings. for automatically exanding said si e walls and a shiftable member arranged to elevate said bottom plate and release said spring-actuated sidewalls.

8. A machine for forming hollow buildingblocks comprising a mold-box having outwardly expansible side walls and a bottom plate movable independently of said side walls and to and from the top thereof, a core extending through an opening inwthe' moldbox bottom, s rings for automatically exanding said si e walls and a shiftable membar for elevating said bottom plate and provided with means for holding said side walls in closed osition against the tension of said sprin s -w ereb lease ated-to engage said bottom late.

9. A machine for forming ollow said-bottom plate, sprin s for automatically eipanding said side wa s, and 'a shifter for e ecting a relative movement between said bottom plate and core to remove the core from the molded block, said shifter being provided with means for holding said side walls in closed position against the tension of their actuating springs, whereby'when said.

shifter is moved said spring-actuated side walls will be released. v

10. A machine for forming, hollow build ing-blocks comprising a mold-box having outwardly expansible side walls, pivoted,

spring-actuatedsupports whereon said side wallsare mounted, a bottom late movable to and from the top of said si e walls, a core extendin through an opening in said bottom plate an a shifting cross-head for elevating said bottom plate provided with. means for e a'gin said s ring-actuated supports to ho d sai side wa Is in closed position against the tension of their actuating s rings.

11,. A machine for forming ollow building-blocks comprising a mold-box having said side walls will be re-. when said shiftabl'e member is actubuilding-- blocks comprising a mold-box having out-w ,wardly expansible side walls,a bottom plate and'a core extending through an opening in outwardly exp'ansible side walls, pivoted spring-actuated supports whereonsaid side walls are mounted, a bottom (plate shiftable" a core 1 to and from the top of said si eavalls extending through an opening in saidbottom supports and hold said s1de walls nclosed posit on against the tension of said actuating springs and arranged to release said springagesaid,

actuated supports and side walls-b a slight initial movement of said crossead and" means carried by said cross-head arranged to engage and'elevate said bottom plate after a slight initial movement of said cross-head.

12. A machine for'forming hollow building-blocks com risi a bottom platel out.- Wardly expansi 1e si e walls ported at points below said ottom plate, s rings for automatically expanding said s1de Walls, means for holding said side walls in closed position against the tension of said springs, a core extending throu 11 an openin said spring actuate side walls and for effecting" a relative movement'between said core and bottom plate to withdraw the core'from' the molded block.

13. Aomachine for forming building blocks comprising a mold havin outwardly swinging side walls, shif table b ocks or mounts to ivotally supin said bottom late, means or releasing L which said Walls are ivotally connected,

rails with which said b ocks or mounts en'- age and whereon they are guided in straight inedirection to and from the center of the mold, mechanism engaging said 'blocks or mounts sliding the same along said rails and adjustable mechanism for automatically opening and closing said swinging side walls many of their 8.(l]11St6d positions, substantially as described.

14. A machine for-forming building blocks comprising a mold having outwardly swinging side walls, shiftable blocks or mounts to which said side walls are pivotally connected, rails with which said blocks or mounts vengage and whereon they are guided in straight line direction to and from the center of the mold, adjusti screws extending parallel with said gui e rails and threaded through said blocks or mounts, means for holdin said adjusting screws a ainst lbngi- 10 late, ash1ftable cross-head,- means carried y said cross-head arran ed to e 16. A machine for forming building blocks swingin side walls, sup orting arms to whic said walls are remova ly and interchangeably secured, slidable mounts or blocks to which said supporting arms are pivoted and means for adjusting said mounts to and from the center of the mold box to vary the size of the molded block, substantially as described.

17. A machine for forming building blocks comprising a mold box having outwardly swinging ,side walls, supporting arms to which said side walls are interchangeably and removably secured, sliding blocks or mounts to which said supporting arms-are pivotally connected and screws engaging said blocks or mounts to adjust the same to and from the center of the mold box to vary the size of the mold, substantially as described.

18. A machine for forming building blocks comprising a mold box having outwardly swinging side walls, swinging supporting arms to the upper ends of which said side walls are interchangeably and removably secured, sliding. blocks to which saidsupporting arms are pivoted below the bottoms of said. side walls, guide-ways whereon said blocks are mounted and screws engaging said blocks to adjust the same to and from the center of the box to vary the size of the mold box, substantially as described.

19. A machine for forming hollow building-blocks comprising a mold-box having outwardly expansible side walls, springactuated supports whereon said side walls are removably mounted, means for adjusting said supports to and from the center of said mold-box to vary the size of the molded blocks, adjustable devices for holding said side walls and supports closed in different positions against the tension of said springs, a core extending through an opening in the mold-box bottom and means for releasing said spring-actuated supports and side walls and for effecting the removal of the core from the molded block.

20. A machine for forming hollow building-blocks comprising outwardly expansible side walls, pivoted supports whereon said side walls are removably mounted, means for adjusting said pivoted supports to and from the center of the mold-box, a bottom plate, a core extending through an opening in said bottom plate, a shifting cross-head for effecting a relative movement between said bottom plate and core to withdraw the latter from the molded block and adjustable devices carried by said cross-head for controlling the movement of said side walls.

21. A machine for forming hollow building-blocks comprising a mold-box having outwardly expansible side walls, a bottom plate and a core extending through an opening in said bottom plate, and fluid pressure actuated devices for effecting the relative movement between said bottom plate and said core to withdraw the latter from the moldedblock.

t 22. A machine for forming hollow building-blocks comprising laterally and outwardly movable side walls, a bottom plate vertically movable to and from the to of said side walls, a core extending throug an opening in said bottom plate and fluid pressure actuated devices for elevating said bottom late and for controlling the movement of said side walls.

23. A machine for forming hollow building-blocks comprising a mold-box having outwardly expansible side walls, a bottom plate and a core extending through an opening in said bottom plate, a shiftablc cross-head provided with means for controlling the movement of said side walls and with means for effecting a relative movement between said bottom plate and core to withdraw the latter from the molded block, a fluid pres sure cylinder, a piston therein operatlvely connected to said cross-head, means for controlling the admission of fluid under pressure to said cylinder.

24. A machine for forming hollow building-blocks comprising a mold-box having outwardly ex ansible, pivoted spring-actuated side wal s, a bot-tom plate movable to and from the top of said side walls, a core extending through an opening in said bottom plate, a cross-head provided with means for holding said side walls in closed position against the tension of said springs and also provided with means for elevating said bottom plate, a fluid pressure cylinder, a piston therein connected to said cross-head and means controlling the flow of fluid to said cylinder;

25. In machines for forming building blocks, the combination with an open-top mold box, of a support above the top of said mold box, a vertically reciprocating tamping head carried by said support and a series of independently spring-held tampers mounted upon and shiftable with said vertically reciprocating tamping head.

26. In machines for forming building blocks, the combination with anopen-top mold box having vertically disposed cores and side walls, said cores and side walls being interchangeably and adjustably held in position to vary the size of the mold and the contour of the molded block, of a support above the top of said mold box, a vertlcally reciprocating tamping head carried by said suport and a series of tam ers removably and interchangeably mounte upon and shiftable with said vertically reciprocating tamping head, substantially as described.

27. In machines for forming building blocks, the combination with an o en-top mold box, of a support laterally s iftable over the top of said mold box, a vertically reciprocating t-alnping head and operating means therefor carried by said support and a series of independently s ring-held tampers mounted upon and shifta le with said tamp ing head, substantiall as described.

28. In machines blocks, the combination with an open-top mold-box, of a support abovethe top of said mold -box, two tamping-heads vertically shiftable upon said support, a series of tampers carried by each of said heads, a walkingbeam connecting said tampingheads and means carried by said supports for operating the same.

29. In machines for .forming buildingblocks, the combination with an open-top mold-box, of a laterall shiftable support mounted to swing over t e top of said moldbox, two' '-ta1nping-l1eads mounted to shift vertically upon said support, a' series of spring-held tampers carried by each of,said heads, a walking-beam and connecting rods between said tamping-heads, a fluid pressure motor carried by said support for operating said tamping-heads, valve mechanism for said motor controlled by the movement of said heads anda flexible pipe connection leading to said motor. I

30. In 'machines for forming building blocks, the combination with an o en-top mold box, of a support laterally s iftable over the top of said mold box, a tamping device of substantially the same size as the mold and operating means for automatically reciprocating said tamping device carried by said support, means for holding said support against lateral shift during the tamping operation and means for gradually decreasing the extent to which said tamping device is pro jected within said mold box as the latter is filled.

31. In machines for forming buildingblocks, the combination with an o en-top mold-box, of a'support laterally sliiftable above the top of said mold-box, a tamping device substantially the same size as the mold and'automatic'operating means therefor carried by said support me ans for holding said support against lateral shift during the tamping operation and means for gradually elevating said support as the mold-box is filled.

32. In machines for forming building blocks, the combination with an o en-top mold box, of a su port laterally s iiftable abovethe top of said mold box, a reciprocating tamping device and operating means therefor carried by said support, meansfon graduall elevating said support as the mold box is filled and stop devices arranged to hold said support against lateral shift during the tamping operation, and arranged to automatlcall release the same when the mold box is fi led. i

33. In machines for forming buildingor forming building:

3' blocks, the combination with an o en-to mold-box, of a support laterally s iftab e above the top of said mold-box a reciprocating tamping device of substantlally the same size as the mold carried by said support, a

for operating said tampingIdevice, automatic valve mechanism therefor controlled by the reciprocations of said tamp'ing device, a sto for olding said support against lateral shi t during the tamping o eration, a fluid pressure motor for gradua elevating said support, a pipe connection eading to said motor fluid pressure motor carried by said support and a manually controlled throttle-valve in' said connectiom 34. In machines for forming building".- blocks, the combination with an open-top mold-box, of a support over the top of said mold-box, a tamping device and operating means therefor carried by said support, ,meansfor gradually elevating said support as'the mold-box is filled and automatlcally acting means for laterally shifting said sup. i

port at the end ,of its upward movement.

35. In machines for forming buildingblocks, the combination with an open-top mold-box, of a support above the top of said mold-box, a tampmg device and operating means therefor carried by said support, an upright whereon said support is mounted to shift vertically and swing laterally in a horizontal plane, means for graduallylifting said support as the mold-box is filled, a s ring for swingin said support: laterally "an means for hol ing said support in position against the tension of said sprmg arranged to release the same at the end of its u ward movement.

36. In machines for orming. buildingblocks, the combination with an open-to mold-box, of a support above the top of said mold-box, a reciprocating tampin device and operating means therefor carrie by said support, means for graduall lifting said support as the mold-box is led, means controlled by the vertical shift of said support for starting and stopping thed OPGI'SttlfDg evlce an means or means for said tamping laterally-shifting said support at theend of its upward movement.

37. In machines for forming buildingblocks, the combination with an open-top mold-box, of a support above the top of said mold-box, a reciprocating tamping device carried by said mold-box, a fluid pressure motor carried by said-support for operating said tamping device, a flexible pipe connec tion leading to said motor, means for radually elevating said support as the mo d-box is filled and a cut-off valve in said pipe connection controlled by the vertical shlft of said support. I 38. In machines for molding buildingblocks, the combination with an open-to mold-box, of a support above the top of said mold-box, a reciprocating tamping device and means for o crating the same carried by said support, a ed up ht, a fluid pressure cylinder in the upper en of said u right, a piston and piston-rod in said cylinder and a sleeve'con'nected to said support surrounding said u right and swiveled upon the upper end of sai iston-rod. i

39. n machines for forming buildingblocks, the combination with an open-to mold-box, a support above the top of sai mold-box, a reciprocating tamping device carried by said support, a fluid ressure motor for operating said tamping evice, a flexible pipe connection leading to said motor, an u right whereon said support is mounted to s 'ft vertically and swing laterally in a horizontal plane, a fluid pressure motor mounted on said upright for gradually lifting said support as the mold-box is filled, means for laterally shifting said su port at the end of its upward movement an means 0 erated by the vertical shift of said support or controlling the flow of fluid to said tamperoperating motor.

40. In machines for forming hollow building blocks, the combination with a mold box having outwardly expansible side walls, a bottom plate and'a core projecting throu h an opening in said bottom plate, of a laterafly shiftable support above said mold box, a tampi device and operating means for automatica 1y; reciprocating said tamping device carried y said support, means or holding said support against lateral shift du the tamping operation, means for automaticall elevat said support as the mold box is filled an means for expanding the side walls of said mold box and for effecting a relative movement between said box bottom and said core .to withdraw the latter from the molded block.

' 41. In machines for form' hollow building-blocks, the combination with a mold-box having outwardly expansible side walls, a bottom plate and a core proiecting through an opening in said bottom p ate, of a vertically movable and laterally shiftable support above said mold-box, a reciprocating tamping device carried by said support, fluid pressure operating devices for said tamping device and said support and for'elevating said moldbox bottom, a supply reservoir, connections between said supply reservoir and said fluid pressure operating device and controlling valves in said connections.

42. A machine for fo hollow building blocks comprising a mold ox having outwardly expansible side walls a bottom plate vertically shiftable to and from the top' of said side walls, a core vertically projecting through, an opening'in said bottom plate when the latter is in lowermost position, 0 crating mechanism arranged to automatica y effect first the expansion of said side walls, and subsequently the elevation of said bottom plate to the tops of said side walls and of said core, and a common shiftable member controlling the 'o eration of said mechanism, substantially as escribed.

ILLIAM RAAB. 

